How do you become a flight nurse?
A flight nurse is a registered nurse who cares for critically ill or injured patients during helicopter or airplane transport. The role is not an entry-level job: employers usually require several years of emergency or critical care experience.
What programs ask for
Requirements vary by program. Most want an active RN license, years of ICU or emergency department experience, and advanced life support certifications such as ACLS and PALS. Some pair a nurse with a paramedic and some require added transport training.
Certification
The Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing offers the voluntary certified flight registered nurse (CFRN) credential. It is often encouraged by employers.
Pay
Flight nurses are not reported separately. The median RN earned $97,550 in May 2025. See critical care nursing for the usual path in.
Pay and projections: Bureau of Labor Statistics. NCLEX figures: NCSBN. Enrollment: AACN. Sources and years are ondata sources.